Tethered ball projector for bowling games



Dec. 13, 1949 HANFFFIR 2,490,802

TETHERED BALL PROJECTOR FOR BOWLING GAMES Filed Feb. 1, 1946 FIG. 1

5 FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

3mm. seamen HANFF,JR.,

Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TETHERED BALL PROJECTOR FOR BOWLING GAMES Bernard H. Hanff, Jr., New York, N. Y. Application February 1, 1946, Serial No. 644,929

1 Claim.

This invention relates to games, and it is an object of my invention to provide a bowling game adapted to be played in a relatively small space, such as a parlor or the like, with means for directing the ball.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- Vide a device of this character in which considerable skill may be attained in the aiming and projecting of the ball, by reason of the various possibilities of ball projecting techniques which may be resorted to.

The above and still further objects of the invention will become evident upon study of the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference apply to the same parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view corresponding to Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1, but illustrating the manner of projectile ejaculation, provided by the device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I represents a base of a simulated bowling alley which may be suitably elongated, and which is provided with longitudinal gutters 2 along the edges thereof.

At the ball throwing or playing end of the alley is provided a frame comprised of metallic rod or wire, and bent in a U shape. The arms 3 of the frame are secured in the base I, in suitable apertures provided for this purpose and extend vertically upward, and within the horizontal mem her 4 of the frame are provided a plurality of notches or slots 5.

A ring or collar 6 surrounds the member 4, and normally rests in one of the notches, slots or seat portions 5. Suspended from the ring or collar 6 is a cord 1 having at the end thereof a socket or ball holder 8 provided with a plurality of resilient prongs or bent strips, and adopted frictionally to secure a ball 9, preferably, but not necessarily, fabricated of steel.

Extending between the upstanding arms 3 of the frame, is a cross bar l0, located slightly above the level at which hangs the ball holder 8.

It will now be evident that, raising the ball 9 and holder 8 to any desired level, with the cord 1 reasonably taut (see dotted lines in Figure 3) the ball 9 and its holder 8 may be released, and will fall along the arc of a circle having a radius equal to the length of the cord 1. When the cord 1 strikes the cross bar I it stops in its forward 2 motion, but the ball 9 and the holder 8 continue in their motion, in the manner illustrated in full lines in Figure 3, whereby the ball, due to its inertia is released by the resilient fingers or prongs of the holder 8 and is thrown down the alley along the base I.

The ball may be impelled slowly or rapidly depending upon the height at which it is released. A hook or "curve may be imparted to the ball by imparting a twist to the cord or the holder 8 just prior to the release thereof by the player, and bowling may be accomplished from the side of the alley by mere selection of a suitable notch.

Having described one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the apparatus as described and illustrated, without departing from the scope of the claim or the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

In a bowling game comprising a base with an upright frame fixed thereon, having an elongated, horizontal member forming the top thereof, a second elongated, horizontal member disposed a distance below the first horizontal member on said frame, and a resilient and generally spherical ball socket associated with the first mentioned horizontal member, the features which include having a plurality of spaced seat portions along the top of the first mentioned horizontal memher, a collar encircling the latter and adapted to seat selectively in any one of the seat portions, and a flexible cable secured at one end to the col lar and at the other end to said ball socket and suspending the latter below the second horizontal member.

BERNARD H. HANFF, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Apr. 14, 1928 

